I thought it was gone. It’s been rainy and drizzly and yesterday SNOWY here in Vienna. I thought the sun was gone but it was very cold last night (so clear) and this morning I’m sitting in the sun, like a cat, just enjoying it it.
So today is Wednesday. It was a slow day Monday–I went shopping and took advantage of my 20% discount card to pick up some treasures for my daughter. In the afternoon I checked out a few more Christmas markets. It’s nice just to wander thru and look at all the stalls. I picked up supplies to make a couple litres of Bailey’s. We are having family over today so that gave it a couple days to mellow in the fridge. I was short some condensed milk so had to walk down to the grocery store to pick some up.
My cousins apartment has three full sized grocery stores within a few minutes walking distance PLUS many smaller sidewalk shops with fresh fruit and vegetables. Also many bakeries. Most if not all of the smaller shops cater mainly to the middle eastern residents of this area. I think it’s absolutely possible to live in the city without a car–no need for a four litre jug of milk if you can pick up one litter every day. This may increase the amount of time spent in grocery stores but when you think about parking, and carrying heavy groceries it makes sense to just do a little every day.
Tuesday I headed into the city to pick up some “Stille Nacht” stamps. I was sorry I hadn’t bought some in Oberndorf when I was there. They weren’t here at my cousins’ post office, just behind her apartment building, so I was really hoping they weren’t something special that could only be bought in the Oberndorf post office. But at the main PO I found some. I walked around the old town–this is really the oldest part of Vienna.
I sat for a bit in St Rupert’s church, the oldest church in Vienna. I had tickets for the Bruegel exhibit at the big art museum but thought I might see the Jewish museum beforehand. It wasn’t far but I swear my phone took me in circles. Which was ok because I got to the big clock at Schwedensplatz just at noon as the figures began to move and the organ played. But there was a big delivery truck parked adjacent and I swear he fired up his big diesel on purpose to drown out the charms of the clock as he just sat there idling.
Just around the corner was the Greek Orthodox Church, which opened to the public as I got there. Very ornate and beautiful inside and out. I was very close to the Jewish museum but I think I was running out of time as I had a timed ticket for the special exhibit at the big art museum. So I headed over only stopping for a punch and a sausage in the Christmas market.
You may not know Bruegel the artist but I guarantee if you see his art you will know him. I’ve loved his work since I first saw it and I couldn’t believe there was an exhibition of almost 75% of his known work here in Vienna.
These last two are from a six painting series of the seasons. This last one, Bringing Home the Herd, is now my new favourite. Many of his paintings are extremely detailed, to be displayed at eye level with many provocative details meant to spark lively discussion. He is very critical of what he considers hypocritical behaviour in the church or general population. I picked up an audio guide which is the best way to see exhibitions like this as it highlights details and information I would normally miss. I spent the afternoon in this exhibition and loved every second of it. But my poor feet did not like all the standing so I was glad to get home (after a quick trip to the grocery to pick up grapes and pretzel buns). Supper was liptauer cheese and buns in front of the tv– so good!!! Watched Braveheart dubbed into German and then to bed.